Louisiana is no stranger to prisons, as the state has imprisoned more of its people, per head, than any of its U.S. counterparts. Critics point out the high incarceration rate is a result of citizens simply breaking the law, lack of education and poor economic status. Michelle Alexander, however, has called the prison phenomena the “New Jim Crow.”

In the book, Alexander argues that the criminal justice system has recreated a caste-like system that has resulted in millions of African-Americans being imprisoned and as a result, finding themselves in significant socio-economic disadvantage upon release.

Alexander says once an individual has the felon label, old forms of discrimination are legal again through the denial of basic civil and human rights, such as the right to vote, discrimination in employment and housing, and access to education and public benefits.

Alexander’s visit is a part of a yearlong programming series called Critical Conversations: Cradle to Prison Pipeline.